Thursday, August 09, 2012

Federal court declares illegal wiretapping is not actually illegal

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Warrantless wiretapping (cartoon of bald eagle listening in on AT&T calls with earphones)

Here is today’s update in How the Courts are Aiding and Abetting the Government’s Secret and Most Likely Illegal Activities:

The federal government may spy on Americans’ communications without warrants and without fear of being sued, a federal appeals court ruled Tuesday in a decision reversing the first and only case that successfully challenged President George W. Bush’s once-secret Terrorist Surveillance Program.

“This case effectively brings to an end the plaintiffs’ ongoing attempts to hold the executive branch responsible for intercepting telephone conversations without judicial authorization,” a three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals wrote.

I don’t think I’ll ever understand how any appointed defender of the rule of law could pen the above quote and not start looking for the nearest window to hurl themselves out of. And they’re not only okay with it; they’re doing all they can to excuse it and clear the way for further abuses – by pretending they aren’t actually abuses. The mind absolutely boggles.

(via Wonkette)